3rd paper: rough draft>>>>

Victoria Baker

English 99- Begert

8/10/11

“Not Everything That Can Be Counted Counts & Not Everything That Counts Can Be Counted” – Albert Einstein

Education is important for shaping the lives of students. In public school, grades kindergarten through twelfth grade only foster three out of the seven learning styles. For students that don’t learn the “traditional” way that schools teach , they miss out and are sometimes looked at as less than average, even though most students are very bright. There are many things that put a damper on children’s education as well as confidence. Standardized testing is unfair because it is potentially biased, inaccurate, boring, it concludes invalid test results, discourages children when they get low test scores, and penalizes schools with low scores by cutting federal funding.

            There are so many potential biases in standardized testing. The typical standardized test consists of a long, boring multiple choice- fill in the bubble answers. Children learn in all different types of ways and styles. Standardized tests are ‘black and white’ so to speak. They do not consider any other subjects or areas of study such as science, art or creativity within the child. The government mandates this test to try to pinpoint where the child is academically. In Michael Moore’s Idiot Nation, he states that ‘inside one in every four schools the children are learning from textbooks published before the 1980’s’. How do they expect children to perform well on these tests when they are being taught a curriculum that doesn’t teach them specifically what they need to be prepared for the tests that they are given? When the students are subjected to standardized testing, they are pressured to perform well in an environment that they are far from comfortable in.

            Most standard tests are very boring in the eyes of the students taking it as well as the teachers administrating them. A multiple choice test that you fill a bubble in for every answer you choose is very monotamous and can lead students to become disinterested. The atmosphere surrounding standardized tests are that students are given a timeframe to complete the particular section of the test they are on. Normally the students will receive 2 pencils and a piece of scratch paper. There is no talking allowed during the test, so students attention can easily waver performing the same task over and over again. Bored students tend to have lower test scores.

Standardized testing can be inaccurate and conclude invalid test scores. In an article I read on www.Fairtest.org , it talks about low income students and minorities suffering the most from invalid test scores. These inaccuracies can be anything from an entry level college exam test, or a test for a learning disability. The inaccuracies lead to children getting held back and being taught a watered down curriculum’. This is unfair for the students involved because they aren’t getting the same education as the ‘white or rich’ kids. The students should get the best education regardless of their background, culture, or test scores.

Students who receive low test scores on the standardized tests get very discouraged and begin to lose confidence.  These children aren’t held up to their full potential and it hurts the children tremendously in the long run. They see these scores and may decide not to perform to the best of their abilities because of it. It could even lead to children dropping out of school because some states require a standardized test to graduate high school and could potentially not graduate if they receive low scores, despite their good grades. Confidence is very important in students because when they feel good about something they will achieve better grades and will be more willing to learn.

Not only do low test scores impact the students, but they also impact the schools and the district themselves. The schools that submit low test scores get their federal and government funding cut. These budget cuts have a huge impact on everyone involved, including the students, teachers, and even the parents. It is completely unfair for the government to take funds from the schools and students based on a produced test score. Michael Moore’s Idiot Nation refers to this when he says “too many politicians and education bureaucrats have created a national obsession with testing, as if everything that’s wrong with the educational system in this country would be magically fixed if we could just raise those test scores”.  He goes on to say “I wonder what would happen f we tested our US Congressman to see how much they know?” All students should have an equal education and chance for advancement regardless of their test scores. The test scores should never be used as a factor to decide who gets educational funding and who does not.

Education should pave the roadway to a successful life. Submitting children to unfair standardized testing makes schools focus more on teaching a curriculum based on the material in the test, not what they need to know going into the rest of their lives in the real world. Mathematics and reading ARE essentials that all students need to know, however they should be taught in a fun learning environment that ties in all subjects of study, not just ones that will produce higher test scores from the students.

There are many alternatives to just the boring standard test. For example, the schools can administer a test based on the curriculum they were taught and studied throughout the school year.  It is important to include all subjects of study in school and in testing. This will make it more flexible for the teachers to teach the materials. And they can broaden their teaching methods and keep students interested in learning the material. When students are interested in the material they are learning, and do not have the pressures that standard tests put on them, they will have better attendance and confidence in their learning. This will reflect in their attitudes; with more confidence and less pressure to pass the test, students will show improved schoolwork and receive an overall better education.